The stoutly-bred Herald The Dawn looks bound for bigger and better things after opening his account in style at Naas.
Jim Bolger’s juvenile is a full-brother to former stable star Dawn Approach, who won twice at the Co Kildare circuit during a stellar career that included four Group One triumphs.
Following an encouraging debut when runner-up at the track last month, Herald The Dawn was the 15-8 favourite to get off the mark at the second attempt and showed a sharp turn of foot to seal a two-and-a-quarter-length victory over his main market rival, London.
The colt holds a host of big-race entries, including the Futurity Stakes at the Curragh on August 23rd, but Bolger sees the youngster as a work in progress.
“He is not as precocious as his brother and it will not be until next year that we see the best of him,” said the trainer.
“He could step up in distance and we will have to have a good think about where we go next.”
Paddy Power make Herald The Dawn a 50-1 shot to follow in his sibling’s hoofprints by winning next year’s 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket.
There was a shock result to the opening event of the afternoon as 40-1 shot Redstaroverchina claimed top honours in the Birdcatcher Day 18th October Race.
Mick Halford’s Al Qahwa was the hot favourite to follow up an impressive display at Leopardstown, but after cutting out much of the running, he was powerless to resist Redstaroverchina’s late burst.
Winning trainer Edward Lynam said: “I was talking to myself after the way she ran the first day but she picked up and learned today.
“We’ll look for a bit of black type now as she’s a well-bred filly.”
Texas Rock (9-4 joint-favourite) justified market support by landing the Kildare Post Rated Race for Michael Grassick, pulling clear of Ger Lyons-trained pair Greek Canyon and Joe Eile under Fran Berry.
Little Treasure was a 5-1 winner of the naasracecourse.com Maiden for trainer Willie Browne and jockey Seamie Heffernan.
Browne said: “I’ve loved her from the start. She’s a breeze-up filly that got a muscle injury and it has taken quite a while to get her sound. She cost a lot, but that doesn’t make them any better. Maybe we will sell her and if not she will try to get some black type.
“I think she will get seven furlongs. She has a high head carriage, but I think she is very genuine.”
Meanwhile, David Casey is likely to make a swift return to action following a heavy fall on the final day of the Galway Festival. Casey was partnering the Arthur Moore-trained Mitebeall Forluck at Ballybrit when he was unseated at the second fence.
The jockey was unable to take up his ride aboard Damut at Cork on Monday after being stood down by the Irish Turf Club’s chief medical advisor Adrian McGoldrick, but his injuries are not serious.
McGoldrick said: “He got a kick on his kidney and there’s some bruising there, but I spoke to him this morning and he was in good spirits.
“There was some blood in his urine, so I stood him down today, but all the X-rays came back clear. Provided the scans are fine on Tuesday, he should be fine to ride by Wednesday.”
